996 short shifter
Discussion
Hi all,
I have a 2001 996 turbo which already has some sort of short shifter fitted by the previous owner. I'm really not sure if I like it. It's quite stiff to go between gears and feels a little notchy. You have to be quite forceful and positive with it. Going from second to third it feels very mechanical and you really have to allow the spring to centre the shifter, which means slower changes. I remember the previous owner telling me he spent some serious money on the shift kit but I'm not sure which one it is. Do I have an option to switch to a smoother kit? I've heard people mention the 997 kit.
I should add that I've come from an e36M3 3.0 that had a very smooth gear change, albeit a little vague and long in comparison to the 911. I previously had an S200, which had the best shifter feel of any car I've driven. Probably unrealistic to replicate this but getting close would be good.
Found the link.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I have a 2001 996 turbo which already has some sort of short shifter fitted by the previous owner. I'm really not sure if I like it. It's quite stiff to go between gears and feels a little notchy. You have to be quite forceful and positive with it. Going from second to third it feels very mechanical and you really have to allow the spring to centre the shifter, which means slower changes. I remember the previous owner telling me he spent some serious money on the shift kit but I'm not sure which one it is. Do I have an option to switch to a smoother kit? I've heard people mention the 997 kit.
I should add that I've come from an e36M3 3.0 that had a very smooth gear change, albeit a little vague and long in comparison to the 911. I previously had an S200, which had the best shifter feel of any car I've driven. Probably unrealistic to replicate this but getting close would be good.
Found the link.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Onetrackmind on Monday 27th April 18:33
Edited by Onetrackmind on Tuesday 28th April 14:57
With you on this, and was discussing the fitment of quick shift kits to 996 GT3's on Saturday. Why in god's name do people fit these pieces of junk ?
I really don't see the appeal of driving a car that will barely go into gear when it's cold, is almost impossible to change gear between 1st and 2nd and 2nd back dow to 1st ?
Anyone with even a modicum of mechanical sympathy must realise that any quickshift puts extra load and wear on the syncho hubs and baulk rings if used in anger.
I've bought two 996 GT3's with them fitted, in my estimation they make driving the car a royal PITA, but also make rapid upshift and downshifts a lottery. In both instances they were the first items I removed off the car and replaced with a 997 GT3 shift for the princely sum of £120 IIRC (I think this will fit your turbo too), you'll be rewarded with a gearshift that's light, positive (it's removes about 10 % of the travel of the 996 item without any baulkiness or additional weight) and is a joy to use after the aftermarket sh*te made by B&M etc.
I really don't see the appeal of driving a car that will barely go into gear when it's cold, is almost impossible to change gear between 1st and 2nd and 2nd back dow to 1st ?
Anyone with even a modicum of mechanical sympathy must realise that any quickshift puts extra load and wear on the syncho hubs and baulk rings if used in anger.
I've bought two 996 GT3's with them fitted, in my estimation they make driving the car a royal PITA, but also make rapid upshift and downshifts a lottery. In both instances they were the first items I removed off the car and replaced with a 997 GT3 shift for the princely sum of £120 IIRC (I think this will fit your turbo too), you'll be rewarded with a gearshift that's light, positive (it's removes about 10 % of the travel of the 996 item without any baulkiness or additional weight) and is a joy to use after the aftermarket sh*te made by B&M etc.
Edited by Slippydiff on Monday 27th April 19:13
I have a short shift on my 996T, it can be a bit of a pig putting it in reverse when started, but within a couple of minutes its fine in all gears. It would be interesting to know / see the difference a change could make as £120 isn't a lot of money. I am however a complete luddite when it comes to these sorts of upgrades even if someone says they're simple
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Evening J, your "hardcore" comment has some credence. When I bought the yellow GT3 that Jackal now owns (but is selling apparently) it had some POS B & M quickshift fitted. Whilst test driving it, and struggling with what can only be referred to as the recalcitrant abortion that was the gearshift, I asked the owner if he'd bought the car with the quickshift fitted (assuming that as he appeared a sane individual, he must have done). He replied no, he'd had it fitted.I asked him (with hindsight probably somewhat curtly) Why the f*ck had he fitted such an abhorrent waste of money to what is one of the nicest gearboxes in the watercooled Porsche range. His answer ?
"I like it, it feels more "sporty" .........."
Well yes, if you like guessing which gear you're about to select, unable to find reverse when it's cold, almost unable to get it into first without forcing it into position when cold, find it impossible to select first from second when cold and enjoy wrong slotting gears, it is undoubtedly "more sporty".
I'd looked forward to an enjoyable drive home in the car, instead I drove like Miss Daisy, such was my concern at wrong slotting the 'box.
Olaf Manthey tried all the well known quickshifts and and consigned the lot of them to the bin as they made the shift too heavy, too short or too notchy. Having done so he designed his own billet item.
It had been fitted to my black car by the previous owner. It was thing of joy to use, it had the delicious metallic/mechanical feel you allude to, reduces the throw by 22% BUT without all the baulky, heaviness/weight issues that afflict all the aftermarket crap out there.
It can be found on page 28 of this Manthey PDF :
http://www.manthey-motors.de/nextshopcms/cmspdf.as...
Cheap it ain't, but it's a truly superb piece of kit.
Thanks,
So you think the 997 GT3 linkage is shorter and better than the standard 997 one?
I've just found a bill from 2002 for a Gemballa short shift kit. Pretty sure the precious owner replaced it though with something else.
I'll be picking up a 997 shift mechanism of some sort. Any links to threads with part numbers or fitting guides?
So you think the 997 GT3 linkage is shorter and better than the standard 997 one?
I've just found a bill from 2002 for a Gemballa short shift kit. Pretty sure the precious owner replaced it though with something else.
I'll be picking up a 997 shift mechanism of some sort. Any links to threads with part numbers or fitting guides?
I've fitted an ebay special to my 986 and it really good, a massive improvement on standard. I think your cables must be in good order, properly adjusted, properly lubricated, and the endfloat in the lever needs to be set just so, otherwise an SSK will just make it worse. There was also an inch square piece of blue plastic under my lever which seemed to do absolutley nothing apart from interfere with one of the cables so I removed it. And don't forget to rotate the lever through 180 degrees for a RHD car.
For me, reverse is a teeny, weeny bit more "is that in or not", but every other gear is a massive improvement, and I don't notice any difference whatsoever between the car being stone cold or mid-hoon hot. I have none of the "can't find first" issues people report, and the gears change with just light fingertip pressure on the lever.
I would suggest a bit of tinkering before discounting them entirely. Mine is genuinely the best, erm, thirty quid I have spent on the car!
For me, reverse is a teeny, weeny bit more "is that in or not", but every other gear is a massive improvement, and I don't notice any difference whatsoever between the car being stone cold or mid-hoon hot. I have none of the "can't find first" issues people report, and the gears change with just light fingertip pressure on the lever.
I would suggest a bit of tinkering before discounting them entirely. Mine is genuinely the best, erm, thirty quid I have spent on the car!
e8_pack said:
I have a short shift kit fitted to my turbo, it's perfect in every way, not notchy, never stiff cold or hot and direct have a comedy long throw like a standard car I drove which felt woolly in comparison.
Not sure but think it's a Porsche branded item.
My understanding is the factory approved short shift was a B & M item ...........Not sure but think it's a Porsche branded item.
Saw this an dug up an old thread that I posted on.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=141...
The base 997 shifter was a good upgrade on my 986 and one of cheapest options out there. It's subtle but just feels right IMO. The GT3 spec version at 2x or 3x the price may be better still but perhaps best with cup cables (+£££).
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=141...
The base 997 shifter was a good upgrade on my 986 and one of cheapest options out there. It's subtle but just feels right IMO. The GT3 spec version at 2x or 3x the price may be better still but perhaps best with cup cables (+£££).
Slippydiff said:
With you on this, and was discussing the fitment of quick shift kits to 996 GT3's on Saturday. Why in god's name do people fit these pieces of junk ?
I really don't see the appeal of driving a car that will barely go into gear when it's cold, is almost impossible to change gear between 1st and 2nd and 2nd back dow to 1st ?
Anyone with even a modicum of mechanical sympathy must realise that any quickshift puts extra load and wear on the syncho hubs and baulk rings if used in anger.
I've bought two 996 GT3's with them fitted, in my estimation they make driving the car a royal PITA, but also make rapid upshift and downshifts a lottery. In both instances they were the first items I removed off the car and replaced with a 997 GT3 shift for the princely sum of £120 IIRC (I think this will fit your turbo too), you'll be rewarded with a gearshift that's light, positive (it's removes about 10 % of the travel of the 996 item without any baulkiness or additional weight) and is a joy to use after the aftermarket sh*te made by B&M etc.
Are you sure the 997 GT3 shift mechanism is £120? The only GT3 shift I can see on pelican and suncoast are $400. I've read posts by some saying the standard 997 shifter is good and that's meant to be a good but cheaperI really don't see the appeal of driving a car that will barely go into gear when it's cold, is almost impossible to change gear between 1st and 2nd and 2nd back dow to 1st ?
Anyone with even a modicum of mechanical sympathy must realise that any quickshift puts extra load and wear on the syncho hubs and baulk rings if used in anger.
I've bought two 996 GT3's with them fitted, in my estimation they make driving the car a royal PITA, but also make rapid upshift and downshifts a lottery. In both instances they were the first items I removed off the car and replaced with a 997 GT3 shift for the princely sum of £120 IIRC (I think this will fit your turbo too), you'll be rewarded with a gearshift that's light, positive (it's removes about 10 % of the travel of the 996 item without any baulkiness or additional weight) and is a joy to use after the aftermarket sh*te made by B&M etc.
Edited by Slippydiff on Monday 27th April 19:13
Slippydiff said:
e8_pack said:
I have a short shift kit fitted to my turbo, it's perfect in every way, not notchy, never stiff cold or hot and direct have a comedy long throw like a standard car I drove which felt woolly in comparison.
Not sure but think it's a Porsche branded item.
My understanding is the factory approved short shift was a B & M item ...........Not sure but think it's a Porsche branded item.
Onetrackmind said:
Are you sure the 997 GT3 shift mechanism is £120? The only GT3 shift I can see on pelican and suncoast are $400. I've read posts by some saying the standard 997 shifter is good and that's meant to be a good but cheaper
No, with discount it's cheaper than £120 
Part number P 997.424.010.00 Gearshift bracket Retail £133.24. Price and part no 29.8.2014
chriscoates81 said:
That's the wrong one. The 997 gt3 part ends with 91.
It's what's fitted to my car (Mk 1 996 GT3), it removes approx 10% (max) out of the shift travel (or the same as 15 years worth of wear/slop) the end result is a near perfect shift quality, light, accurate, feelsome and perfectly matched to the other control surfaces (weigh wise). My 997 Turbo was ordered with a factory short shifter. Brilliant upgrade and well worth it. AFAIR, the after fitment cost for this OEM part was around £400 so not sure what OP has fitted. It's only a revised fork after all. This option only changes the throw distance and shouldn't do anything to stiffness, etc.
AMG Merc said:
My 997 Turbo was ordered with a factory short shifter. Brilliant upgrade and well worth it. AFAIR, the after fitment cost for this OEM part was around £400 so not sure what OP has fitted. It's only a revised fork after all. This option only changes the throw distance and shouldn't do anything to stiffness, etc.
Changing/reducing the throw means moving the fulcrum point. Unless you extend the lever length, that means less leverage, which in turn means more weight. Slippydiff said:
chriscoates81 said:
That's the wrong one. The 997 gt3 part ends with 91.
It's what's fitted to my car (Mk 1 996 GT3), it removes approx 10% (max) out of the shift travel (or the same as 15 years worth of wear/slop) the end result is a near perfect shift quality, light, accurate, feelsome and perfectly matched to the other control surfaces (weigh wise). Incidentally, every B&M quick shift kit I have ever used have been utter dog s
t, my sapphire Cosworth 2wd I fitted one to went from a great T5 box to horrid after fitting a B&M shifter....took it off after a few weeks as it kept crunching 2nd & 3rd, and 1st was almost impossible to select. My 4x4 sapphire Cosworth came with one & aside from being far too easy to beat the syncros, it was notchy as hell, stiff & the bloody reverse collar used to buzz like a phone ringing around cruising RPM! That got binned as I would have felt guilty selling it, it was that bad! Tried one fitted to a mates M3 & that was awful as well!
Edited by RWD cossie wil on Wednesday 29th April 01:57
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff